We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joe Sebastiandong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

I started my job as the model pretty long time ago. There’s a lot of things that I learned throughout my journey. Being a model is not that difficult like you thought it would be, but being a successful model is really such a “thing”. Punctuality, professionalism, discipline, patient, healthy and a little bit of luckiness is what you need to get yourself in the modeling industry. Definitely knowing exactly what category of modeling that you want to do, what’s your goal , and why do you wanna be a model before approaching to an agency. I was trying to turn myself into a perfect role model, but I was totally wrong about that, let me tell you why all humans are beautiful and you don’t have to be anyone else, the best thing about is is you just need to be yourself, because what the world and what the agents, brands, designers, wanna see is you, yourself and your ability in your own beautiful way. So what you need to do is to take care of yourself eating a right food take care of your physique and always having a big smile is the key of success! Also be patient to wait on brands, agency’s response! Allow yourself to shine in your best way in front of public because you never know who’s watching you!

Joe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For someone who doesn’t know about me. My name is Joe Sebastian Dong, I’m a model, actor, and a part-time manicurist. It’s kind of funny because I never thought about modeling or even have any knowledge or anything about modeling in industry. When I was 19, I was working with the nail shop and one of my client appeared to be a model agent and somehow she’s pretty interesting in my look and try to convince me to be a print model. Our conversation was so confused to me, but it’s kind of very interesting. I decided to go back home and talk to my mom about that. A couple weeks later, she returned back to the shop and I did her manicure. Then we talked about how to create my portfolio come cards and get ready for me to submit me to an agent. Within two months I got a call back and everything went from there. I started to experience how to walk on the runway, smile for the photo shoot or posing for editorial, I did learn a lot about my body movement and how to get more confident in front of camera throughout the time, how to make clients happy and how to be super professional, humble and prioritize the project so people who work with you will never forget you!
I have been published in multiple magazines, walk in a bunch of runways, shooting from small to big brands, no matter what role the Client wants me to be I did them all perfectly. Music video, extras, Commercials, runways, social media’s project, hair model, editorial or blogger, i’ve done it all and guess what, the more you put yourself out there the more opportunites will come back to you! Beside modeling, I also work as the manicurist at the nail shop on my free time. Well, I guess it’s just because I love to take care of people and make people feel better and happier. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Art can outlive the moment, the trend, even the artist.It gives you a way to leave behind feeling, not just accomplishment.
Arts Creating meaning from inner life.
Being able to take emotions, wounds, hope, beauty, or confusion — and transform it into form, movement, sound, or image — is deeply affirming. It’s proof that your inner world matters.
To be able to express myself through fashion, photos, styles as a non-binary model to the world is everything to me. It’s also having a hidden meaning behind a story that no matter what gender you are, what’s your sexuality is, Fashion or arts always have a room for you.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I feel like lots of people don’t know what they’re doing or sometimes they’re having a wrong orientation about what exactly they want. I know this is gonna be really confusing. If you don’t really know exactly what do you want to be as a creative or artist? Let me tell you, find your niche where your truly passion belongs to. Of course the road sometimes isn’t straight but overcome the obstacles will bring you the new enlightenment! Don’t be greedy! What I mean over here is trying to concentrate or focus on the thing that you think you can be the best at. Not everything! But the thing you think you can confidently have more chance to win than lose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://app.castingnetworks.com/talent/profile/250546601
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo3dong/